TDP Workers Attack MP Vijaya Sai Reddy's Convoy

Tension erupted in the temple town of Ramatheertham in Vizianagaram district today as the leaders of the three main political parties in the state - the YSR Congress Party, the TDP and the BJP - all made their way to the Ramateertham temple after the idol of temple's residing deity, Lord Rama, was vandalised on December 29.

The YSR Congress Party had its MP and national General Secretary V Vijaya Sai Reddy visit the temple to enquire into the incident. He reportedly interacted with the temple's priests to ask about the matter.

On the occasion, Reddy lashed out at the TDP, claiming that it had orchestrated the incident to discredit the YSRCP government and to distract people from the government's welfare schemes by stirring up communal tensions.

While he was at the temple, a group of TDP activists attacked the MP's convoy, which left the windows of his car damaged. They also attacked the police force when it tried to intervene to alleviate the tension.

The issue has become a major bone of contention among the political parties of the state, who have been blaming each other for the occurrence. Former CM Chandrababu Naidu even claimed that this was only one of 127 temples that had been attacked in the state since the Jagan government came to power.

It all started when unknown miscreants desecrated the idol of the Hindu deity Lord Rama, severing its head, on December 29. Following the incident, the state government reacted swiftly and roped in five special teams to nab the culprits under the supervision of DIG Ranga Rao and the district SP Rajakumari. It also appointed the RJC of the state's endowments department as the inquiry officer of the investigation process.